"It is incomparable" - Peter Sagan dismisses comparison between his own success and Tadej Pogacar's
CyclingSaturday, 19 October 2024 at 09:24
It's not hyperbolic to class Peter Sagan as a modern day cycling legend. A record seven Tour de France Green Jerseys, three World Championship titles, 18 Grand Tour stages and a pair of monuments, not many riders have had more success in the peloton than the Slovakian.
With his professional career now at an end though, Sagan has watched the emergence of the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, first through competing alongside them and now as a fan on TV, and according to the 34-year-old former BORA - hansgrohe and TotalEnergies star, the level of today's stars compared to his own peak is simply incomparable.
"You can't compare today's cycling with cycling from five, ten or fifteen years ago. You're only talking about something we'll never know. I'm not riding against them now, I was only competing against them when I was already later in my career," explains Sagan in conversation with the Cyclist Magazine Podcast. "Cycling has changed so much in recent years that it is incomparable. It is like comparing the sport to the time of Eddy Merckx. We can talk about it, but it will never end. We will never find out."
As mentioned, Sagan still follows the sport and like many, has been blown away by the success of Pogacar in particular, over the course of the 2024 season. "I certainly still enjoy watching races like the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. And also some stages of the Tour de France or Vuelta a Espana," Sagan says. "He (Pogacar ed.) is strong everywhere. He might even do Paris-Roubaix in the future. What he has already won is very special in this day and age of cycling. In my time, people also said that I could become a classification rider, but in my head and heart I didn't want that at all."
After a recent health scare put an end to his hopes of competing in the mountain bike at the Olympics, Sagan is also now taking things a bit 'easier' in retirement. "No, I certainly can't do the wattages I used to. I do a lot of different activities, like hiking, gym or water sports," he concludes. "I still ride the bike, but I have to say that I am definitely not in the shape I was as a pro. I love riding with people or on an online platform, but it is very different from what it was before."
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- One of the amazing things about cycling is how many races are happening at the same time. Stage, GC, and (as is clear here) job. It’s what makes the sport so interesting. On screen maybe not much is happening, but and yet so much is happening.RidesHills06-06-2025
- In contract year, i would say that if team duties permit, you are allowed to market yourself.abstractengineer06-06-2025
- Now its not a good team for talent development and opportunities. With Tadej hogging the GTs and the Monuments and the rest left fighting for scraps, there is very little chance for leadership roles which are critical in development of future greatsabstractengineer06-06-2025
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- OMG you've never been in a sprint if you get touched a little and stop sprinting ! Stay back on the peleton then if you can't take a lil' touch !frieders306-06-2025
- I guess that I'll need to find another sport to follow then.
santiagobenites05-06-2025 - Agreed, this sprint s is not woethy of a religation penalty! This should be re examied ou tof fairness.sam05-06-2025
- no brilliance from Yates or Visma?? you don't win Grand Tour without being strong rider. He stayed podium thru mtns without teammates Toro had full team of super climbers.Brilliant WVA and Yates, both monumental, inspiration comebacks, crushing the ride (all-time record time and he's not strong?). We all know Toro and Carapaz failed, but they didn't trust their legs; you might win by a few seconds if the others look at each other but not 5min.ccpivo05-06-2025
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Sagan made cycling cool, he was a rockstar. Pity he didn't have the competition like there is now. No one would ride with him in a breakaway. Mvdp wva tp would ride with him, as they would all think they could beat him if the tempo was hard
He will be an underrated cyclist, but Bora would not exist without him
A bit too diplomatic. They're obviously very different riders. But Tadej could retire today and still be ranked above Sagan all time. Putting Sagan top 5 all-time as a rider in a general sense is already a stretch. Certainly top 10 though.
Well said
One word for Peter: GRAVEL
All the ex pros seem to be doing it. It’s something he would be great at and I think enjoy. It would bring joy back to his riding maybe.
He seemed so jaded and done with the scene at the end of his career.
He doesn't seem remotely interested in taking anything seriously which is totally ok.
agreed, which is why gravel is perfect for him. I heard some of the guys in worlds got dropped so the hit the pubs instead of finishing the race. perfect for Peter. he would have so much fun with the fan interaction too.
frankly he doesn't seem to be remotely interested in cycling, which is sad.
Long ago I owned a bar for only 2 years, am not remotely interested in alcohol or the behaviour that results from it anymore. Life does such things to you.
and as a teen, my mom worked in a bakery, and hates baked goods. I get it. he is just such a great personality and fun to watch. cycling is more fun with him in the sport.
Yes, cyclists are not the most entertaining characters but at least the more « human » ones stand out easily then
I did a charity ride with him during his WC heyday. It was so fun. He was a joy. He seemed to have lost it which sucks as it was just a blast to watch on the bike. He made it fun. He made guys like Tadej possible TBH. I’d love to see more of him and gravel hits that vibe
He's been racing gravel and on the MTB bike for almost three years. Not sure how serious he is though.
He has A-fib, and from family experience, it's not just scary. Even if you are cleared to train, you've lost something like 10% of your power.
It almost turns pros into us "normies"!